'Twas the night before Boston....

...and everything seems to be coming together. The weather doesn't get any better than this:

Time

Condition

Feels Like

Chance Precip

Dew Point

Humid.

Wind

10am

Mostly Cloudy 53°F

51°F

20%

38°F

57%

From E 6 mph

11am

Mostly Cloudy 56°F

54°F

20%

38°F

51%

From E 7 mph

12pm

Mostly Cloudy 58°F

57°F

20%

38°F

47%

From E 7 mph

1pm

Mostly Cloudy 59°F

58°F

20%

37°F

44%

From E 8 mph

2pm

Mostly Cloudy 60°F

59°F

20%

37°F

42%

From E 8 mph

3pm

Mostly Cloudy 60°F

59°F

20%

37°F

42%

From E 8 mph

The only thing missing is a 20 mph tailwind! I finally started feeling rested and ready this week. Right now, I'm feeling more eager and excited, as opposed to nervous. For the first time since Austin 2007, I didn't get sick the week leading up to the marathon, so I imagine that's contributed to my zen state. As I look back on my preparation for Boston, it hasn't been as consistent as my build-up to Philadelphia. I've had a couple minor injuries, so my mileage has not been as high (Aug-Oct. versus Jan.-Mar.)
The difference in mileage can largely be attributed to doing fewer base/recovery runs. This time around, I have less tempo mileage, but it has been balanced by longer races that are hard tempo efforts. My long run mileage is there, and I've been more consistent with intervals this time around. I suspect I replaced a lot of Monday/Wednesday runs with cross training, but I can't be sure without looking at my log more closely.
So that brings me to time goals. The drop in mileage did not seem to affect my half marathon times, as I set a 1 minute PR at New Bedford. However, you can't fake fitness in the marathon. My last long run over the Boston course did give me a tremendous amount of confidence, so I'm going to set two fairly ambitious goals:

1. PR, i.e. faster than 2:55:31
2. Get as close to 2:50 as I can.

With those time goals in mind, I'm going to set out at 6:30 pace and do an assessment at the halfway point, and then again as I head into the Newton Hills. Look out for me tomorrow... yellow jersey... #2016.

Good luck to all you Boston hopefuls tomorrow... its definitely PR weather!